Screen packer



March 5, 1940. c w THoRNHlLL 2,192,336

SCREEN PACKER Filed July 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l zlwuc/ntm C W T/Mr/MIY/ March 5, 1940. c. w. THORNHILL 2,192,336

SCREEN PACKER Filed July 19, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 5, 1940 I UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE t SCREEN PACKER Charles W. Thornhill, Houston, Tex. Application July 19, 1937, Serial No. 154,428

21 Claims. (Cl. 166-12) This invention' relates to a packer and setting Another object of this invention is to provide a packer which may be expanded with a force of any predetermined value.

Another object of this invention is to provide a packer which cannot be moved either upwardly or downwardly within a well once the packer has been set, unless it is first intentionally released. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide a packer and device for lowering and setting the same, including frangible elements adapted to be severed at the time of setting the packer, but which may be rotated and washed through for the purpose of removing bridges or the like prior to the setting of the packer without danger of breaking the frangible members.

Another object is to provide 'adevice of the type set forth in which the entire structure, including the pipe by which 'the device is being lowered, may be litted slightly and dropped for the purpose of driving the device through or past obstructions as it is being lowered without danger of breakingthe frangible connections referred to. Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, taken in-connection with the accompanying drawings, it being clearly understood that said description and drawings are by way of illustration and example only and are not by way of limitation. i

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in vertical cross section illustrating the upper portion of a packer and the setting mechanism therefor, construed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the lower portion of the structure shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 2 being a continuation of the lower portion of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view on a reduced scale illustrating thepacker shown in Fig. 1 after the same has been expanded.-

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig, 3, but illustrating the device after the setting string or wash pipe has been removed from the well.

Fig. 5 isan enlarged view illustrating the valve used with the set shoe forming a part of this invention. I

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a. slightly modified form of this invention.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the details of a portion of the latching and expanding mechanism shown in Fig. 6.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the numeral I illustrates the well casing hereinabove referred to and the numeral 2 illustrates the drill pipe'or tubing upon which the packer and screen and liner are lowered into the well. The lower end of pipe 2 is connected by means of a coupling 3 to a special fitting 4, the upper end of which is similar to the end 'of a length of the drill pipe or tubing and. the

lower end of which is formed with an enlarged external diameter 5 having spaced downwardly projecting teeth or clutch members 6 at its lower end. Below the teeth 6 the special fitting, which is again formed with a portion of reduced diameter l, is internally threaded at 8 to receive a length of wash pipe 9. The lower end of this length of wash pipe 9 is connected by means of a .shear pin H] to a valve member l2, which is of hollow construction and has lateral openings l3 therein adjacent its upper end. This element I2 also has external downwardly facing ratchet teeth l4 for a purpose to be presently described.

The lower portion 1 of the fitting 4 is of such external diameter as to fit snugly within a sleeve l5 and may be joined thereto by means of a shear pin l6, as shown in Fig. 1, and the upper end of this sleeve is provided with spaced upwardly extending tongues or teeth I! which interfit with the tongues or teeth 6 to provide a. rotatable connection between the fitting 4 and the sleeve. The teeth H are so formed, however, as to extend radially outwardly beyond the exterior surface of the sleeve, as shown at I8. It will be seen that the lugs or teeth 6 and I! interflt in such a manner that the'shoulder formed by the reduced lower portion 1 of thefitting 4 and the enlarged intermediate portion 5 thereof will rest upon-the ends of the teeth I! and the lower ends of the teeth 6 will rest upon the sleeve l5 between the teeth ll. Thus, it will be possible when lowering the device into a well to permit the weight of the pipe 2 to rest upon the upper end of the sleeve l5 without danger of shearing oil the shear pins l6. Furthermore, it is possible to raise the pipe 2, together with the sleeve l5 and the parts carried thereby, and to drop the same in an effort to remove obstructions encountered without any tendency whatever to shear oil the pins I6.

The-teeth thus make possible the rotation of .the

"assembled apparatus for this purpose is ordinarily known as spudding. Below the packer the sleeve is connected by means of a coupling l9 to the screen pipe 20. To the lower end of the screen pipe is threadedly secured a valve seat member 2|, having a packing 22 therein. A nut 23 is also threaded into the valve seat 2| and is provided-with a ratchet element 24 adapted to engage with the ratchet teeth H on the valve element l2. The packing 22 is held in place by means of a washer 25 held against the lower end of the seat member by means of the set shoe 28. The set shoe 26 is hollow and has a central opening 21 and laterally extending blades or fins 28 at its lower end.

While the element I5 is referred to as a sleeve, it will be understood thatit may be joined to one or more sections of blankpipe between it and the screen 20, and that the parts l5 which pass through the packer may be of any special form found desirable in practice. It may be pointed out that as shown in the present illustration the element I5 is not an ordinary length of pipe, but

is provided with teeth I1 at its upper end and has welded thereto adjacent its lower end a ring The ring 29 is welded on the exterior of the sleeve as shown at 30, and serves as a support for I a ring-like cushion member 3|, upon which is carried a plurality of slips 32, having downwardly facing outwardly presented teeth. These slips are in turn connected by means of shear screws 33 to a wedge ring 34 having a downwardly extending part 34' adapted to contact the ring 29 upon upward movement of the slips 32 and slight compression of the cushion member 3| Upon the,wedge ring' 34 is carried a washer or abutment 35 above which is wound the packer 33. This packer consists, as in the usual case, of a plurality of wrappings of canvas or a similar material held in place by means of wire or the like, or may consist of a circular member of some special compressible composition. The upper .'end

of the packer 36 carries a ring 31 similar to ring 35 and on the upper surface of this ring there rests the plurality of slips 38, having outwardly presented upwardly facing teeth thereon. The slips 38 are connected to. a wedge ring 39 by means of a dovetail connection 40..

The wedge ring 39 has an upwardly extending portion 4| of reduced thickness terminating in an open upper end of increased thickness and reduced internal diameter as shown at. 42..

Against this upper end is adapted to bear aspring 43 held down by means of a washer 44 .seated against the coupling 3. The wedge ring 39 is thus constantly urged downwardly by means ings inthe special fittingv 4 and provided on an external iportion with inclined upwardly facing partsfiz A sleeve 41 is slidable within the fitting and prevents inward movement of pins 45, and

this sleeve is held in position by means of a shear pin 48 A seat 49 is provided within the sleeve" for the purpose of receiving aball valve so adapted to be dropped in through the pipe 2. The sleeve 41 is preferably of such sizethat it fits snugly within. the upper portion of the fitting 4,

but when moved downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 it will enter the enlarged lower portion 5 of the fitting 4 and be intercepted and thereafter supported by the inwardly extending the position shown in Fig; 3 of the drawings.

In operation, the equipment is made up as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and is lowered into the well to the point where it 'is desired to' set the packer. During this lowering operation fluid may be pumped downwardly through the tubing 2 and the pipe 9, out through the valve l2 and the bottom of the shoe through the opening 21. Thus, any bridges which may be formed may be washed and after the equipment has reached the desired position the entire inside of the well may also be washed. Also, if it be desired to rotate the screen and set shoe at the bottom thereof, or to raise the entire apparatus and drop it a short distance in an effort to remove obstructions, this maybe done because of the connection formedlugs 5| as shown in Fig. 3. This releases the pin or pins for radially inward movement, and by virtue of their inclined outer ends and the corresponding inclined surfaces on the portion 42 of the sleeve 4|, the pins 45 will move inwardly and the spring 43 will force the sleeve 4| and the wedge ring 39 downwardly with respect to the fitting 4 and the sleeve I5. 1

This downward movement of I the wedge ring as will move the slips 3a outwardly into-contact with the inner wall of the casing l. Thereafter, the tubing 2 is pulled upwardly, moving with it the fitting 4, the wash pipe 9, thesleeve l5, the

screen 20, and the set shoe 26. The abutment 29 which is mounted on the sleeve l5 will also be moved upwardly with respect to the anchoring slips 38 which have been set against the casing, and this upward movement will serve to more firmly anchor the slips 38 against the casing. Further upward movement of the tubing 2 will act through the abutment 29, the ring 3|, the slips 32, the shear screw 33, the wedge ring 34, and the abutment 35 to expand'the packer 38 against the inner wall of the casing. When sumcient stress has been placed upon the packer 36 the shear screw 33 will be sheared ofl, whereupon the slips 32 will move upwardly along the wedge ring 34 into engagement with the inner wall of the casing, thus locking the wedge ring 34 and the abutment 35 against downward movement with respect to the casing. The parts are so proportioned that after the slips have moved.

upwardly into locking engagement with the casing as just described and with the cushion member 3| in its natural shape, there will be a relatively small clearance between the abutment 29 and the wedge ring 34/ Continued upward pull on the tubing, however, will compress the cushion member 3| until the abutment 29 will come into direct metal to metal contact with the lower end portion 34 of the wedge ring 34. The upward pull on the tubing will then be transmitted f directly by an all-metal contact path to the lower will simply serve to hold the slips 32 always in locking engagement with respect to the wedge ring 34 and the casing l without the necessity for transmitting the force for compressing the packer through the slips. The upward pull on the tubing is continued until it becomes sufiiciently great to shear off the pins I6 which secure the fitting 4 to the upper end of the sleeve I5, the strength of these pins predetermining the force with which the packer is to be set. As soon as the pins 6 have been sheared, it is of course impossible to further set the packer, and the packer will be held in set position by the slips 38 and 32.

Upward movement of the tubing 2 with respect to the sleeve '|5 and the strainer 20 after the pins l6 have been sheared will serve to move the valve l2 upwardly through the packing 22 until its lower end'seat-s against the packing 22 with the openings l3 above this packing. The ratchet element 24- carried by the nut 23 will thereupon engage the teeth H on the valve element and wil serve to retain the valve element in seated position. After the valve has been seated, further upward movement of thetubing 2 will cause the shearing of the pins I0, whereupon the connection between the wash pipe and the valve will be severed and the interior of thesereen may, if desired, be washed. The tubing 2 or the drill stem, as the case may be, and the wash pipe 9 are now free to be removed from the well if desired so that the tubing which is to serve as a flow line for removing the fluid from theweil may be run in.

If it be desired that the same tubing used in setting the packer be also used as the flow line for removing the liquid production from the well, the lugs 5| may be omitted and the parts made of such relative size that the sleeve 41 and ball 50will pass downwardly within the wash pipe 9 so' as to come to rest within the valve element l2. When this is the case, after the packer has been set, the valve l2 seated, and the wash pipe disconnected from the valve, the wash pipe and tubing will be left free and unobstructed so that flow may take place upwardly the'rethrough.

If after the packer 36 has been set, as above described, it is desired to remove the same for the purpose of reworking the well or for any other purpose, this may be readily done as follows:

The fiow tubing within the wellis'first removed, leaving the parts in the position illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. Thereupon, a fishing device of suitable form is lowered into the well and engaged within the upper portion of the sleeve 4| beneath the bead or enlargement 42. An upward pull on this'sleeve by such fishing device will cause the withdrawal of the wedge ring 39 from behind the slips 38, the moving of these slips radially inwardy, and the release ofthe entire device for upward movement. Be-

439" will then engage beneath the outwardly projecting portions l8 of the lugs l1, and will serve to lift the sleeve, screen and other parts attaehed thereto from'the well., The packer as bereleased at its upper end from the hold-down efiect-ofthe slips 38, may be torn loose rom the casing wall and moved upwardly. Since the teeth on the slips 32 are directed downwardly, they will not interfere with this upward movement;

and the entire device may be removed from the well without breaking the parts and without extensive fishing operations; If it later be desired to use the same structure in thesame or another well, it is only necessary to 'provide a new body of packing material and replace the sheared pins and screws used in connection with the device.

A slightly different embodiment is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. In this form the sleeve 4| with its wedge ring 39 has been omitted, and in its place is a ring having a shoulder 52 adapted to receive the spring 43, and having an upstanding portion 53 slidingly engaging the exterior of the fitting 4 just above the pin 45. This sleeve is designated by the numeral 54 and has leaf springs 55 secured thereto at its lower end by screws 56 or the like. The lower ends of these leaf springs 55 are secured at ,51

to a set of slips 58 which are mounted to slide upwardly and downwardly on a wedge ring 59. The wedge ring 59 is itself slidingly mounted upon the sleeve 60 which has upstanding teeth or lugs 6| at its upper end which interengage with the lugs 6 on the fitting 4 so as to form a positive rotatable connection. Also the ends of the teeth each abut the opposite member, as in the previously described exampe, thus making it possible for the device to be spudded. The sleeve 60 is also formed on its exterior surface below the normal position of the wedge ring 59 with a plurality of downwardly directed ratchet teeth 62 adapted under influence of the spring 43. This will move the slips 58 downwardly and outwardly along the wedge ring 59 into contact with the inner wall of the casing An upward pull on the tubing 2 will then serve to first force the wedge ring 59 more firmly behind the slips 58 until the same are set againstthe casing, and wil then serve to compress the packer 35 and move the wedge ring 59 downwardly withrespect thereto until the teeth of the ratchet member 63 come in contact with the ratchet teeth 62 on the sleeve. The

action of the parts at the lower end of the packer will be substantially identical to that previously described. and upon the packer being fully set to the extent predetermined by the-strength of the shear pins IS the same will shear off and release the tubing from the sleeve and packer.

It will be noted from the foregoing thatin both forms of the device set forth the screen and set shoe may be rotated or s'pudded prior to the setting of the packer without in any way. endangering the shear pins providedv for use in operating the packer. Furthermore, the well may at any time be washed by pumping down through the tubing prior to the time the packer has been set, and the packer itsef may be set without any portion of the device being in contact with the bottom of the well.

It is further to be noted that the sleeve. screen and set shoe are at all times positively suspended, and at no time do they have to be rested upon the bottom of the well or any other support.

Priorto the-setting of the packer these elements are suspended from the tubing, and after the packer has been set and the tubing disconnected they are suspended by the action of the slips 32.

/ pipes, and means for moving the opposite end of ,against movement with respect to one of said pipes, and means for moving the opposite end of said packing toward the first 'end to expand the same, said last means including a frangible connection constituting the sole medium for transmitting expanding force to said packing and adapted to be severed 'to prevent transmission of further expanding force when the expanding force exerted on said packing exceeds a predetermined amount. r y

2. In a device for sealing the space between two pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes, means for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to one of said pipes, means for moving the opposite end of said packing toward the first to expand the same, said last means including a frangible connection constitutingthe sole medium for transmittingexpanding force to said packing and adapted to be severed to prevent transmission of further expanding force when the expanding force on,

saidrpacking exceeds a predetermined amount,

and means for anchoring said opposite end of the packing against contracting movement after the expansion of the packing has begun.

3. In a device for sealing the space between two' pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes, means for anchoring one end of said packing against movement ..with respect to one of said said packing toward the first end to expand the same, said last means including means for limiting the expanding force exerted ons'aid packing.

4. In a device 'for sealing the space between two pipes, an expansible packing between said pipesf means for anchoring one 'endof said packing against movement with respect to one of said pipes, means for moving the opposite end of said packing toward the first to expand the same.

said last means including a means for limiting 60. pipes after the expansion of the packer has bethe amount of said packing, and means for anchoring said opposite end of the packing against contracting movement with respect to the same one of said 51 In a device for sealing the space between two pipes, an'expansible'packingbetween said ing against movement with respect to one ofsaid pipes; means for moving the opposite end of said packing toward the first to expand the same, slips for anchoring said opposite endof the packing against. contracting. movement with respect to the same one of said pipes after the expansion of the packing has'begun, and resilient means for urging said slips into anchoring position during the time saidpacking is beingexpanded.

." 6. In. a'deVice for sealingthe space between pandingz force transmitted to pipes, means for anchoring one end of said packtwo pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes, means for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to one oi,

means until broken constituting apart of said means for moving the opposite end of the packing to expand the same, and adapted to be broken by a force less than that'required to fully expand the packing.

'7. In combination with a packing for sealing the space about a section of blank pipe within a well, a tubing having a part thereof disposed within said section of blank pipe, said section of blank pipe and said tubing having interfitting parts forming a rotatable clutch connection therebetween, and a'frangible means for holding said section of blank pipe and said tubing iii position with said interengaging parts engaged with each other to form a positively rotatable connection between said tubing and said section of blank pipe whereby said section ofblank pipe may be telescope with said section of blank pipe, and

frangible means for holding said tubing in fully telescoped relation with'said section of blankpipe, whereby force may be transmitted through said tubing to said section of blank pipe to move said section of blank pipe into position and said.

tubing maybe removed from said blank pipe by fracturing said frangible connection after said packing has been expanded 9. In a device for sealing the space between two pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes,'means for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to one of said pipes, means for normally holding said anchoring means away'from anchoring position, hydraulic means for. releasing said anchoring means for movement into anchoring position, and means for moving the opposite end of said packing toward the first to expand the same.

10. In a device for sealing the space betweentwo pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes, means for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to,one of said pipes, means movable longitudinally on said pipes to move said anchoring means to anchoring position, resilient means for urging said longitudi'-' nally movable means in such direction, means for preventing movement of said longitudinally movable means in such direction, hydraulic means for releasing said preventing means to permitsaid' longitudinally movable means to move and means for moving the opposite'end of said packing "toward the first to expand the same. v 11. In a device for sealing the space betwee two pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes, slips for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to one of said pipes, means-movable longitudinally of said pipe to set said slips, resilient means for urging said longitudinally movable means into slip-setting position, a tubing connected to one of said pipes,-

a pin disposed within an opening in said tubing and adapted when projected outwardly to prevent such longitudinal movement of said longitudinally movable means, a sleeve within said pipe for holding said pin in projected position, means for closing the opening through said sleeve so that upon exertion of hydraulic force upon said last means'said sleeve will be forced from behind said pin to release said longitudinally movable means and set said slips, and means for moving the opposite end of said packing toward the first to expand the same.

12. In a device for sealing the space between two pipes, an expansible packing between said' pipes, slips for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to one of said slips for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to said casing, a wedge ring movable behind said slips-to expand the same, resilient means for urging said wedge ring toward slip-setting position, means for preventing such movement of said wedge ring, means for releasing said last mentioned means to permit said wedge'ring to move to slip-setting position, a laterally projecting part on said blank pipe adjacent the upper end thereof, and inwardly projecting parts on said wedge ring above and below said projection of said blank pipe, whereby said wedge ring may be engaged by a fishing tool' to release said slips and will in turn engage the lateral projection of said blank pipe to raise said blank pipe after said slips have been disengaged.

14. In a device for sealing the space between a casing and section of blank pipe, an expansible packing about said section of blank pipe, slips for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to said casing, a wedge ring movable behind said slips to expand the same, resilient means for urging said wedge ring toward slip-setting position, means for prevent-- said wedge ring to move to slip-setting position,

a laterally projecting part on said blank pipe adjacent the upper end thereof, and inwardly projecting parts on said wedge ring above and below said projection of said blank pipe, whereby said wedge ring may be engaged by a fishing tool to release said slips and will in turn engage the lateral projection of said blank pipe to raise said blank pipe after said slips have been disengaged, said slips and said wedge ring being connected to each other by dove-tail connections, and said slips being connected to the upper end of said packing by a dove-tail connection whereby upward movement of said wedge ring will positively contract said slips and lift the upper end of said packing.

15. In combination, a wellscreen and set shoe therefor, a section of blank pipe at the upper end of said screen, a tubing connected to said blank pipe for lowering said screen, shoe and blank pipe into a well, a normally'open valve in said shoe, a frangible connection between said tubing and said blank pipe and between said tubing and said valve, said valve being movable upwardly to closed position on upward movement of said tubing relative to said shoe and said blank pipe, a packing surrounding said blank pipe for forming a seal about said blank pipe, and means operable by simultaneous movement of said tubing, blank pipe, screen and shoe for setting said packing without movement of said tubing relative to said shoe until said packer has been set.

16. In combination, a well screen and set shoe therefor, a section of blank pipe at the upper end of said screen, a tubing connected to said blank pipe for lowering said screen, shoe and blank pipe into a well, a normally open valve in said shoe, a frangible connection between said tubing and said blank'pipe and between said tubing and said valve, said valve being movable upwardly to closed position on upward movement of said tubing relative to said shoe and said blank pipe, a packing surrounding said blank pipe for forming a seal about said blank pipe, and means operable by simultaneous movement of said tubing, blank pipe, screen and shoe for'setting said packing, and means for preventing relative movement of said blank pipe and tubing until said packing has been set.

17. In combination, a well screen, a set shoe, at the lower end thereof, a blank pipe on the upper end thereof, a normally open valve in said set shoe, a tubing connected to said blank pipe and to said valve and adapted upon upward movement of said tubing with respect to said blank pipe to close said valve, shear pins connecting said tubing to said valve and to said blank pipe with said valve in open position, a packing surrounding said blank pipe to form a seal thereabout, said shear pins connecting said tubing and said blank pipe being adapted to transmit force from said tubing to said blank pipe for compressing said packing, and to give way when said force exceeds a predetermined maximum whereby said valve will remain in open position until said packin has been fully expanded.

18. In a device for sealing the space between two pipes, a packing between said pipes, gripping means adjacent one end of saidpacking adapted to be moved into contact with one of said pipes to anchor said end of said packing againstmovement with respect to said pipe toward said gripping means, ,means movable along the other pipe toward the packing for urging said gripping means into contact with said one pipe, and means for forcing the opposite end of said packing to-* ward said gripping means to expand the packing.

19. In a device for sealing the space betweentwo pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes, slips for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to one of said slips are expanded.

20. In a device for sealing the space between two pipes, an expansible packing between said pipes, laterally expansible means for anchoring one end of said packing against movement with respect to one of said pipes, means movable along the other pipe with respect to said other pipe and said first means to expand the first means, means for so moving said last mentioned means, and means for moving the opposite end of said packing toward the first to expand the same.

21. In combination, a set shoe' for a well and a section of blank pipe carried thereby, a tubing connected to said blank pipe for lowering said 10 set shoe and blank pipe into a well, a normally set.

between said tubing and said valve, said valve being movable upwardly to closed position on; upward movement of said tubing relative to said shoe andsaid blank pipe, a packing surrounding I said blank pipe for forming a seal thereabout, and means operable by simultaneous movement of, said tubing, blank pipe and shoe for setting said packing without movement of said tubing relative to said shoe until said packing has been CHARLES W. 'I'HORNHILLJ 

